What if the star you looked to for hope turned out to be nothing more than one of thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth?
Rhuigi Villaseñor de Rhude wouldn't care. “If I got there and it was a man-made North Star, this route is one of those things I created,” he said backstage.
That's what he wanted to symbolize with the satellite model hanging over the runway this season, a time he described as a moment of refocusing and solidification for the nine-year-old brand, after a hectic 2023.
An excursion to the English countryside where he ended up without a phone signal was the beginning of this collection in which he overlaid the idea of a hunting retreat, preppy Ivy League tropes and American utility. He lent credence to Villaseñor's desire to point out that Rhude has more range than the sporty, casual style for which he is known.
That was legibly mapped out in a casually cool lineup that progressed from youthful and outdoorsy to slick and suave, backed by Villaseñor's knack for body proportions.
The looks transitioned almost seamlessly from vintage-style leather and letterman jackets paired with baggy jeans and cargo pants, to sleeker workwear finished with tailoring that had the ease of pajamas.
This was further reinforced by the glasses sported by most of the models and the profusion of footwear styles with everything from sneakers and loafers to cowboy boots and baggy suede shoes that were jokingly called “dehydrated Uggs.”
A shameless frugality was telegraphed by vintage-feeling finishes or those OTT fur coats: repurposed vintage, he was quick to point out.
It helped make the result feel familiar and attractive. While the designer admitted that he's not reinventing the wheel, that urban, skater-influenced energy he infused made the line, as well as the individual pieces, feel current and cohesive.
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